tsunami
Seismic ocean surge
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by underwater disturbances—typically earthquakes, but also volcanic eruptions or landslides.
These waves travel at high speeds across open water, then surge to devastating heights when they reach shallow coastal areas.
Figuratively, tsunami describes any overwhelming force or flood: a tsunami of criticism, a tsunami of debt.
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- evacuationRemoval from danger
emergency · relief · aid · survivors · ruins · aftermath · humanitarian · crisis
Seismic ground movement
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- faultlineCrustal fracture zone
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
tectonics · tremor · aftershock · seismograph · rupture · foreshock · megathrust · seafloor
Oscillating motion through medium
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- avalancheRapid mountain snow collapse
torrent · onslaught · outpouring · barrage · cascade · overwhelming · inundation · groundswell
Sudden powerful increase
- swellIncrease in size
- wall of waterVertical advancing flood
- tidal waveEnormous oceanic surge
- boreTiresome individual or drill
inundation · crest · wavelength · amplitude · propagation · runup · drawback · shoaling
Land-water boundary
- beachSandy waterside margin
- harborSafe anchorage for ships
- portDocking place for ships
- seawallCoastal erosion barrier
breakwater · barrier · lowland · coastal erosion · debris · flooding · storm surge · evacuation route
Energy transfer rate
- energyPower to do work
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- velocityDirected rate of motion
pressure · intensity · ferocity · destructive · unstoppable · overwhelming · violent · massive
catastrophe
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
evacuation · emergency · relief · aid · survivors · ruins · aftermath · humanitarian · crisis · recovery
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- faultlineCrustal fracture zone
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
magnitude · tectonics · tremor · aftershock · seismograph · rupture · foreshock · megathrust · seafloor · displacement
wave
Oscillating motion through medium
avalanche · torrent · onslaught · outpouring · barrage · cascade · overwhelming · inundation · groundswell · tide
surge
Sudden powerful increase
- swellIncrease in size
- wall of waterVertical advancing flood
- tidal waveEnormous oceanic surge
bore · inundation · crest · wavelength · amplitude · propagation · runup · drawback · shoaling · ocean swell
shoreline
Land-water boundary
seawall · breakwater · barrier · lowland · coastal erosion · debris · flooding · storm surge · evacuation route · high ground
power
Energy transfer rate
velocity · pressure · intensity · ferocity · destructive · unstoppable · overwhelming · violent · massive · powerful
- AsiaChina, India, Japan, Thailand, Korea
- waterocean, river, sea, lake, wave
- disastersdisaster, earthquake, earthquakes, catastrophe, floods
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- Indian OceanArabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Andaman Sea
- Natural Processesphotosynthesis, decomposition, evaporation, erosion, carbon cycle
tsunamicalm
Free from agitation
stillness · dead calm · slack water · flat water · tranquility
- tsunami warningNotice of incoming surge
- tsunami alertOcean wave danger notification
- Indian Ocean tsunami2004 seismic sea surge
- silver tsunamiRapid population aging
- ice tsunamiWind-pushed shore ice
- tsunami zoneRegion threatened by seismic waves